3 militants shot dead in Jenin

After pullout, Israel again enters Nablus

JERUSALEM — Israeli troops shot and killed three Palestinian militants Wednesday during a raid in the West Bank town of Jenin, and also entered Nablus for the second time this week.

In Jenin, undercover Israeli forces moved to arrest two Islamic Jihad members allegedly involved in planning a foiled suicide bombing attack in Tel Aviv last week, Israeli officials said. But the troops were shot at and returned fire, said officials, killing the two and a man who was with them.

The dead were identified as Ashraf Saadi, 29, sought for suspected involvement in numerous shooting attacks and bombings, and Mohammed Abu Naasah, 34, an Islamic Jihad commander in the Jenin refugee camp. Officials said the third man with them who was killed, Alaa Jabali, served as an assistant, but they did not specify his role.

Last week, Israeli forces killed an Islamic Jihad commander from Jenin suspected of helping organize the Tel Aviv bombing, foiled a day earlier when police in suburban Bat Yam captured a Palestinian man who allegedly planned to detonate himself. He led authorities to a separate site where he had hidden explosives.

Islamic Jihad vowed to avenge Wednesday's deaths. The group claimed responsibility for firing three of five rockets launched Wednesday from the Gaza Strip at southern Israel.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas accused Israel of seeking to undermine plans for a Palestinian unity government in which Hamas would share power with its main rival, Fatah. The proposed government has yet to be named.

In Nablus, thousands of residents of the crowded casbah neighborhood were again placed under curfew, a day after Palestinians said Israeli troops had withdrawn. Residents were ordered to stay inside, and schools were closed.

Military officials said the operation was part of a push to root out armed militants and impair their ability to carry out attacks against Israel.

The Israeli raid, launched in full force Sunday, has uncovered storerooms containing explosives, belts used by suicide bombers, a hand-held missile and communications equipment, army officials said. A Palestinian man was killed during the raid Monday.

Israeli military officials say most planned suicide bombings that were thwarted during the past year originated in Nablus.